We live in a curious age. We are offered glimpses of a world civilization slowly emerging, for example, the U.N. special agencies dedicated to health and education. But along with these are sights and sounds that suggest that the whole civilization is rapidly being destroyed. Two official policies clash, and instantly embassies are attacked by howling mobs of students, at once defying law, custom and usage. And that this may not be merely so many hot-headed lads escaping all control, may itself be part of the policy of the political parties, that is, mob attacks and additional propaganda to deceive world opinion, makes the situation even worse. Parties have always been dishonest, but now it seems as if power-mania is ready to destroy those civilities that make international relations possible. There is something even new in what inspires these students to turn cars and books is not their political enthusiasm but a frenzied delight in destruction, an urge towards violent demolition. The author calls our age curious because

We live in a curious age. We are offered glimpses of a world civilization slowly emerging, for example, the U.N. special agencies dedicated to health and education. But along with these are sights and sounds that suggest that the whole civilization is rapidly being destroyed. Two official policies clash, and instantly embassies are attacked by howling mobs of students, at once defying law, custom and usage. And that this may not be merely so many hot-headed lads escaping all control, may itself be part of the policy of the political parties, that is, mob attacks and additional propaganda to deceive world opinion, makes the situation even worse. Parties have always been dishonest, but now it seems as if power-mania is ready to destroy those civilities that make international relations possible. There is something even new in what inspires these students to turn cars and books is not their political enthusiasm but a frenzied delight in destruction, an urge towards violent demolition. The author calls our age curious because